9:03pm: Grandstand's Corbin Middlemas is speaking with debutant John Hastings, who admits he was "very nervous to start with" before settling into his work, eventually taking the wicket of AB de Villiers for 4.

Australia marginally took the opening day's honours, losing two wickets after bowling South Africa out for a relatively cheap 225.

Faf du Plessis again stood between the home side and a much smaller total for the visitors as he fought bravely with an unbeaten 78.

In doing so he took his Test average to 266 in just his second match, and became the first player in Test history to surpass 70 in his first three innings.

Robin Peterson (31), Alviro Petersen (30) and Vernon Philander (30) were the next best scorers as the Proteas struggled from the outset.

Surprisingly spinner Nathan Lyon did the bulk of the damage with 3 for 41, while Australia's new-look pace attack share the remainder of the wickets.

Mitchell Johnson bowled better than his 2 for 54 suggests while Mitchell Starc (2 for 55) was also impressive, bowling both Jacques Kallis and Petersen.

Shane Watson also took the key scalp of captain Graeme Smith on his return to the Australian line-up, while John Hastings chipped in with the wicket of AB de Villiers on debut.

Australia's reply began badly with Ed Cowan going for a golden duck on just the third ball bowled by Dale Steyn.

Watson also perished cheaply for 10, given out lbw to Vernon Philander on video review.

The retiring Ricky Ponting was spared a hairy closing few overs as Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman and survived to stumps on 7, with David Warner on 12.

9:00pm: That's stumps. Nathan Lyon successfully negotiates the final over and Australia reaches 2 for 33 at the close. David Warner is on 12 and Lyon 7.

8:57pm: It's Dale Steyn to bowl the last over of the day. He beats Nathan Lyon with the first delivery. "At release, Nathan Lyon's stance is lower than a pregnant snail," says Kerry.

8:56pm: David Warner is gritting out against some fine new-ball bowling from Morne Morkel. The visitors are getting some movement. "If D Warner is still in mid-morning and it's not moving, it's pin your ears back," Kerry O'Keeffe says.

8:51pm: Nathan Lyon is really being tested by Dale Steyn, who's threatened him with a couple of vicious bouncers. That batsman's handled the attention well to date. Morne Morkel warming up at mid on.

8:36pm: No Ricky Ponting! Australia sends out nightwatchman Nathan Lyon as Rianna Ponting looks to the heavens in relief. Punter sits in the sheds padded up with a concerned look on his face.

Wicket

8:35pm: Out! The DRS brings about the undoing of Watson, with that one hitting middle and leg. On your way son. Australia in a spot of bother here now at 2 for 18.

Shane Watson

lbw Philander 10

2-18 (Warner 8*)

8:34pm: Referral. Philander goes up for lbw on Shane Watson - Asad Rauf is not interested but Graeme Smith wants a look.

8:24pm: David Warner and Shane Watson trying to steady the ship early here for Australia. 1 for 10 after three, with Watson 6 and Warner 4.

Wicket

8:12pm: Out! Ed Cowan joins the primary club as Steyn gets some movement through the air and Jacques Kallis gobbles up the catch at second slip. Disastrous start for the Aussies at 1 for 3. 14 overs to be bowled this evening.

Ed Cowan

c Kallis b Steyn 0

1-3 (Warner 3*)

8:10pm: Dale Steyn sends down the first delivery and Warner doesn't hold back - but misses. "That one was in the zone - he threw the kitchen sink at that one," Terry Alderman says. He gets bat to the second delivery and takes three. "Judging by the first couple of deliveries, he's not intending to faff about," Neil Manthorp adds. Does he ever?

8:09pm:David Warner and Ed Cowan running out to bat now for Australia. Can South Africa make some early inroads like the home side? Be sure to stay with us to the conclusion of the day's play.

Wicket

7:59pm: Gone! South Africa all out for 225. Morkel looks to go over the top against Lyon and hits it straight to John Hastings at mid on. Another fine innings from Faf du Plessis, who finishes unbeaten on 78. Apparently he's the first batsman in the history of Test cricket to pass 70 in his first three Test innings - 78, 110* and 78*. His Test average is a lazy 266. Wow.

Morne Morkel

c Hastings b Lyon 17

10-225 (du Plessis 78*)

7:55pm: Four more.Morkel plunders that one from Johnson and all of a sudden he's 17. South Africa 9 for 224.

7:47pm: Morne Morkel kicks off his innings with three straight boundaries off Johnson. Not too shabby.

Wicket

7:43pm: Bowls him! The end is nigh now for South Africa as Dale Steyn looks to pull out of this one from Mitchell Johnson but gets the inside edge regardless. The ball cannons into middle stump and Steyn's gone for 2. South Africa 9 for 206 and du Plessis is rapidly running out of partners now.

Dale Steyn

c Johnson 2

9-206 (du Plessis 76*)

Wicket

7:30pm: Out! Nathan Lyon goes round the wicket and Vernon Philander can't help himself as he hoists it high into the air. Mr Cricket gets under it at deep mid on and swallows it and Philander goes for 30. 64 added there between Philander and du Plessis, the best partnership of the innings.

Vernon Philander

c Hussey b Lyon 30

8-196 (du Plessis 68*)

7:26pm: Michael Clarke needs to get rid of Faf du Plessis here and turns to Shane Watson. His first two deliveries are dispatched with ease for four. "That was a bit of a pie from Watto", followed by "dross outside off stump" according to Kerry O'Keeffe.

7:23pm: "Test cricket is a test of temperament and he has delivered for three days," Kerry O'Keeffe says of Faf du Plessis. Kerry reckons South Africa is starting to look good for 250 now after earlier languishing at 6 for 75.

6:58pm: Shot! That one's short and wide from Starc, a gift really for du Plessis who rocks back and bludgeons it for four to get to his 50. 100 balls, eight fours.

50 for du Plessis

8 x 4s 0 x 6s

100 balls

SR: 53.00

6:56pm: Du Plessis shuffles across the crease and doesn't offer a shot to one from Starc, which raps him on the thigh. Ouch. That was Starc's first ball back.

6:53pm: South Africa 7 for 160 now, with Philander moving to 13. Du Plessis one off a second half-century of the series to go with his unbeaten 110 in the second dig in Adelaide.

6:48pm: "Watching du Plessis bat makes you wonder how so many wickets have fallen here today. So many of his shots are right out of the middle of the bat," Jim Maxwell says. Almost the kiss of death as he plays and misses at a Mitchell Johnson delivery next ball.

6:43pm: Jim Maxwell and Terry Aldermanagreethat Faf du Plessis won't be batting at seven for much longer. He's on the verge of another half-century here.

6:36pm: We're into the third session now and Terry Alderman says Mitchell Johnson has been the pick of the bowlers so far today. But he says all the bowlers have done their bit in a "very professional" performance.

6:19pm: We've just posted the second session highlights - click on the headphones below...

Third Test: Tea, day one

Second session highlights:

South Africa 7-141 (52 overs)

Australia

F. du Plessis 39*

R. Peterson 31

A. Petersen 30

M. Starc 2-47 (12 overs)

N. Lyon 1-13 (5 overs)

S. Watson 1-14 (7 overs)

@Henrylawson180 nice to see the bowlers getting some rewards on the WACA. They'll never get Faff out !

6:10pm: Du Plessis puts a rare bad ball from Nathan Lyon away to move to 39. And that's tea, with South Africa 7 for 141.

6:06pm: Woah!That one reared up viciously and hit Philander on the arm. "I just wonder about this wicket, every now and again one flies up off a length," Barry Richards says. Philander doesn't appear to be in any pain, or he's just doing well to disguise it.

6:04pm: "Mitchell Johnson's return to the Test arena for the first time in 12 months has been tremendous here today," says Drew Morphett. Mitch bounces Vernon Philander and then beats him next ball. That one kept low too.

Wicket

5:54pm: Gone! Nathan Lyon strikes as Robin Peterson takes an extravagant swipe at that one and is caught behind. Horrible dismissal given the circumstances. Just as Peterson and du Plessis were looking to revive the ailing Proteas, Peterson effectively throws his wicket away. 57-run stand over. Says Barry Richards:

"He'll be mighty disappointed, it wasn't a great ball from Nathan Lyon. Robin Peterson has tried to murder this, he's had plenty of time to set himself up and just got a little top edge. So South Africa, having dug themselves out of a hole, are right back in it."

Robin Peterson

c Wade b Lyon 31

7-132 (du Plessis 34*)

5:52pm: South Africa 6 for 132 after 47 overs. Faf du Plessis has moved to 34 and he's quickly become the bane of Australia's existence this summer. He scored 78 and 110 not out on debut in Adelaide, and is following that up with another stubborn innings here.

5:40pm: Rush of blood there from du Plessis as he dances down the wicket and gets that one wrong, mistiming it. Fortunately for him, it scurries away from the grasp of Matthew Wade.

5:29pm: Four off an inside edge. A tentative Robin Peterson is extremely fortunate not to be bowled by Shane Watson there, as he gets a thick snick and it flies over the top of the stumps.

@NeilManthorp Too many deep holes have been escaped from in recent years for me to join the 'write-off' theory. Can't see how now, but they find a way...!

5:20pm: That hit below the pad roll but DRS reckons it's still going over on this bouncy WACA deck. No joy there for Australia and they've lost a referral. "He is the DRS king," Kerry O'Keeffe says of du Plessis. "Australia couldn't get him out in Adelaide because of DRS and he survives here again." Du Plessis was given out twice on that last day in Adelaide but lived to bat on both times, eventually conjuring up a remarkable unbeaten 110 on debut in earning the Proteas a draw.

5:10pm: That's drinks, with South Africa taking its total from 3 for 63 to 6 for 98 in that hour. The Proteas lost 5 for 14 in a burst just before and just after lunch.

5:03pm:Mitchell Starc back into the attack now, replacing Mitchell Johnson. Starc started the rot just before lunch by bowling both Petersen and Kallis. Terry Alderman meanwhile is still bemused by the decision to rest Peter Siddle in particular:

"They've made a rod for their backs now, the selectors. It seems if you've played beyond your capabilities, you're not going to play in the next Test. Very strange thing."

4:59pm: Shane Watson back into the bowling attack now in place of John Hastings, and the returning all-rounder beats the bat almost immediately.

4:58pm: It appears attack is the best form of defence here for both Robin Peterson and Faf du Plessis. They've raced to 14 and 16 respectively and the Proteas are 6 for 97.

Wicket

4:38pm: Gone! Elgar won't get off the mark! The pressure finally tells, he chooses the wrong ball to go the hook and he gets a top edge, with Matthew Wade able to run around and take the easiest of catches. Johnson gets his first of the match. "Mitchell Johnson has built up a heck of a head of steam here," Neil Manthorp says. "Is there a way out of this hole (for South Africa)?"

Dean Elgar

c Wade b Johnson 0

6-75 (du Plessis 8*)

4:36pm: Australia's doing its best not to let debutant Dean Elgar off the mark here. Johnson roughs him up with a short-pitched one which bounces right up at the grill. "If he gets through all of this he'll be a much better player for it, because this is as tough as it gets," Barry Richards says. "You don't even know where the first run's going to come from - how's he going to get a run here?"

Wicket

4:23pm: Out! John Hastings strikes on debut and AB de Villiers goes, caught at slip for 4! "The Duke gets his first Test wicket after having one spilled in the last over and Australia is all over South Africa now," says Jim Maxwell.

Hashim Amla run out by David Warner (Vision courtesy of Channel 9)

4:16pm: Mitchell Johnson to operate from the other end. Bowled well and without luck in the first session. He's taking on AB de Villiers, who gets off the mark with a streaky boundary off a thick edge.

4:12pm: Dropped! John Hastings should have had his first Test wicket there but Ed Cowan's put down a dolly in close. A dolly at this level anyway. Oh dear. Hashim Amla was trying to flick it away on the onside and got the timing wrong, and oh how Australia could rue that miss. Amla gets a life on 11. "It was a pretty simple chance by Test match standards," says Barry Richards.

4:10pm: It's John Hastings opening the second session from the Prindiville Stand End. Barry Richards gives his first impression of the debutant: "Energetic".

3:50pm: Jim Maxwell is speaking with former Australian captain Mark Taylor, who rates Ricky Ponting alongside Greg Chappell as the greatest Australian batsmen of the modern era.

3:42pm: Grandstandhas paid tribute to the great man Ricky Ponting, who equals Steve Waugh's all-time Australian record of 168 Tests today. Punter is bowing out where it all began against Sri Lanka 17 years ago - listen to the highlights of a stellar career:

3:40pm: Earlier we asked who Ricky Ponting's replacement should be in the Test team - here's some of your responses:

@soniamwoodward Kahwaja. Front runner for Punters spot? Or is that wishful thinking

@Arona1179 how many years do you think M.Hussey has left? And what abouts Cameron White to replace Ponting?

@RebelAntBrewing I'd like to see Doolan get a run.

@ctbarty usman khawaja!

@ImadHammam khawaja

@TWhiterr if doolan can do what he did against South Africa then surely he would deserve a go

@NJShady Khawaja.

@Crashlah Kawaja Or Hughes have to be the only possibilities

@gleeso73 Usman Khawaja should be Ponting's replacement, he should have never been dropped for Shaun Marsh #utterdisgrace #ausvsa

@carso06 Khawaja or Doolan, or could be the other way maybe hughes or quiney, havent picked them becuase already decided.

@illcommunicate9 Well it'd be out of Hughes, Khawaja & Doolan. Unfortunately none play for NSW anymore so makes guessing harder.

@2messed Alex Doolan or Phil Hughes #AusvSa

@medhursc23 Doolan. Australia is crying out for a specialist number 3. Puts less strain on Watson too.

@bacon8100 Philip Hughes.

@Fariha_23 Hughes for sure! He's like barking with runs for that ever since dropped!

Third Test: Lunch, day one

First session highlights:

South Africa 3-63 (25 overs)

Australia

A. Petersen 30

G. Smith 16

H. Amla 11*

M. Starc 2-27 (8 overs)

S. Watson 1-7 (3 overs)

M. Johnson 0-10 (5 overs)

3:30pm: That's lunch with the Proteas staggering to 3 for 63. Unbelievable final two overs there from Mitchell Starc to bowl both Alviro Petersen and the dangerman Jacques Kallis. Australia's decision to revamp its attack vindicated early doors.

@jimmaxcricket Starc shows his stuff. Should've been ahead of hilfies in bris and Adelaide, but might make the difference if oz can bat well again. SA 3/63

Wicket

3:26pm: Bowls him! Mitchell Starc has bowled Jacques Kallis! The South African great gets one pitched up and swinging in, there's no foot movement and it clatters into his poles. "Fabulous stuff, set him up and produced a yorker on cue. Mitchell Starc, take a bow!" says Kerry O'Keeffe. Kerry says the decision to play a clearly hindered Kallis must now be seriously questioned.

Jacques Kallis

b Starc 2

3-63 (Amla 11*)

Jacques Kallis bowled for 2 (Vision courtesy of Channel 9)

3:22pm: Now for Australia to test the hamstring of Jacques Kallis, who was obviously hindered at the crease in Adelaide. Nathan Lyon was warming up just before the fall of that wicket, so Michael Clarke changes tack by keeping John Hastings on with Starc.

Wicket

3:16pm: Bowls him! Mitchell Starc has shattered the stumps of Alviro Petersenand after some nervous moments waiting for the front-foot replay, the Proteas opener is on his bike. "They got the yorker they wanted and Alviro Petersen just late on the down stroke and it cannoned into the basis of his stumps. Terrific from Mitchell Starc, bowling so much better than here last year and he could be the trump card for Australia," Kerry O'Keeffe says.

Alviro Petersen

b Starc 30

2-61 (Amla 11*)

Alviro Petersen bowled for 30 (Vision courtesy of Channel 9)

3:10pm: John Hastings is in to his eighth over now. Very economical so far - 0 for 15. Mitchell Starc has 0 for 26 off six, South Africa 1 for 60.

3:02pm: South Africa has moved to 1 for 59 as Terry Alderman relives THAT TACKLE. Listen here. It's been 30 years, can you believe - November 13, 1982. In case you don't know what we're talking about...

2:54pm: Former Test batsman Usman Khawaja will captain the Chairman's XI to play Sri Lanka in Canberra from December 6-8. A prime candidate to replace Ricky Ponting - or do you have someone else in mind? Let us know on Twitter.

2:50pm: An lbw appeal from Mitchell Johnson on Alviro Petersen, but Richard Kettleborough is not interested. Neither is Michael Clarke, and with good reason too - it was going well over.

2:44pm: "This is a good sign for Johnson," says Jim Maxwell after the bowler comprehensively beats Hashim Amla with two successive deliveries. "Beaten by a peach," Terry Alderman says of the latter ball.

"This is the best start to a spell from Mitchell Johnson that I've seen for a long time. He does look in control." He says both Johnson's run-up and arm positioning appear to be in fine nick.

Graeme Smith dismissed for 16 (Vision courtesy of Channel 9)

Wicket

2:27pm: Out! Shane Watson strikes to get rid of the dangerous Graeme Smith, well caught at first slip by Michael Clarke for 16. South Africa 1 for 38.

Graeme Smith

c Clarke b Watson 16

1-38 (Petersen 19*)

2:24pm: Johnson getting a bit of inswing to Smith here. The Proteas have moved to 0 for 37, with Smith on 16 and Alviro Petersen 18.

2:14pm: "He's got Smith on the hop, there's no doubt about that," says Drew Morphett, after the South African skipper fends off a rising Johnson delivery which falls just short of Mike Hussey in the gully.

2:11pm: Three runs off that over from Watson. Now here's Mitch Johnson. He's got 190 wickets in 48 Tests - 36 in nine against this opposition, including a best of 8 for 61.

2:07pm: Shane Watson is brought into the attack now, replacing John Hastings. So still no Mitchell Johnson on his "home" turf. Meanwhile, here's Kerry O'Keeffe speaking earlier about Ricky Ponting's standing amongst Australian batsmen.

1:37pm: Interesting - it's John Hastings - Australian Test cricketer #430 - and not Mitchell Johnson to share the new ball with Starc.

1:35pm: Four runs off that first over - Smith moves to 3 and Petersen 1. Our live scorecard is available here.

1:33pm: A number of Australian players are wearing sweaters out there. Strange sight to see at this time of year in Perth.

1:31pm: Here's Mitchell Starc bowling to Alviro Petersen to open this Test match. "The early interest will be on Mitchell Johnson back into the side," says Kerry. Johnson averages 18 in Test cricket at the WACA. His last Test was also against the Proteas, at The Wanderers over a year ago.

1:30pm: Kerry says only time will tell if Australia's four changes will be successful or backfire. The last time they made as many was back in 1984, when five new faces came in against the West Indies.

1:24pm: "I don't think the toss is relevant - you can win batting second here, you can win batting first. There's no great trend," Kerry O'Keeffe says.

1:20pm: Both teams lining up for their respective anthems now - 10 minutes till go time.

1:15pm: Jim is now speaking with former Australian paceman Terry Alderman, who reckons he would have been tempted to bowl. He is expecting some sideways movement and seam through the air. Listen to their chat here.

1:14pm: Australia has not made this many changes for a Test match in 28 years. Jimalso spoke with Michael Clarke, who is confident all the changes will pay off.

1:12pm: Grandstand's Jim Maxwell has spoken with Graeme Smith, who was surprised by Australia's four changes: "Obviously it's unusual in world cricket to see so many changes... but it's not my place to criticise. It's my place to play against them and make it count."

1:01pm: Michael Clarke says the pitch looks a treat and admits he would have batted too. Australia's made even more changes than South Africa - just confirming that Shane Watson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and John Hastings have all been included. "Unfortunately (Peter Siddle) didn't pull up anywhere near good enough for this Test match," Clarke said.

1:00pm: South African captain Graeme Smith has won the toss and opted to bat. Smith confirms that Vernon Philander, Robin Peterson and Dean Elgar have all been included, with the latter making his debut. Rory Kleinveldt, Imran Tahir and Jacques Rudolph are out. In a huge boost for the Proteas, all-rounder Jacques Kallis is playing, but only as a batsman. Smith also says he'd love to have a beer with Ricky Ponting after the game.

12:50pm: The toss is due in 10 minutes - we'll have the confirmed line-ups for you then.

12:45pm:

@ESPNcricinfo Ponting is practising his catching at the WACA ahead of his last Test, Stuart Law hitting them. They debuted 17 years ago together in Perth

@jimmaxcricket The duke get s a baggy green. Ine windy at the waca.looks good for a three dayer on a hard grassy strip

12:25pm: There's no escaping the story that looks to be overshadowing the battle for the number-one ranking in Test cricket: Ricky Ponting's retirement. Punter equals Steve Waugh's Australian record of 168 Test matches.

Ponting made the announcement yesterday, saying he felt he wasn't contributing anymore after making just 20 runs across three innings so far, including a duck.

He said it was towards the end of the Adelaide Test that he first discussed retirement with wife Rianna.

With tributes flowing in for Punter, it's fitting that Grandstand's Cow Corner segment went heavy on the emphasis with a Ponting-themed episode. You can listen to Dan Lonergan and Peter Newlinds's segment below.

12:20pm: Good afternoon (or morning, in Perth) and welcome to the first day of the third and final Test between Australia and South Africa at the WACA. Joel Zander here to see you through to the conclusion of this gripping series. It's a strangely cool and blustery day in Perth with a maximum of 20 degrees forecast.

There've been some showers about in the morning but they have cleared ahead of the toss, which follows shortly.

In the meantime, sit back and listen to Jim Maxwell's preview of what should be a tight, tense Test.